Fuel cell component

ABSTRACT

A fuel cell ( 10 ) includes a lamination ( 11 ) of a plurality of unit cells ( 30 ), current collector plates ( 12, 12 ) arranged at both ends of the lamination ( 11 ), end plates  16, 16  respectively provided outside the current collector plates ( 12, 12 ) with  5  insulating plates ( 14, 14 ) interposed therebetween, and fastening members ( 18 ) for fastening the end plates ( 16, 16 ) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination ( 11 ). A barcode ( 41 ) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell ( 30 ) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator ( 38 ) of the unit cell ( 30 ). According to this fuel cell ( 10 ), the barcode  41  can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell ( 10 ). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode ( 41 ), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a fuel cell component that constitutes afuel cell.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A generally known fuel cell is formed by laminating a pluralityof unit cells which are interposed between end plates, and fastening theend plates to the unit cells using a fastening member. This type of thefuel cell is designed to generate a desired output voltage by connectingthe plurality of unit cells in series.

[0005] Upon failure of one of the unit cells of the fuel cell, that is,degradation in power generation capability and the like, for example,the defective unit cell is replaced with a new one by loosening thefastening members so as to disassemble the end plate from the unitcells. After the replacement, the unit cells are fastened to the endplates again as disclosed in JP-A-8-37012.

[0006] In the case where the defective unit cell is replaced by the newone, the particular information relating to the new unit cell such asmanufacturing data cannot be obtained from the outer appearance. It isthus difficult to determine whether the newly replaced unit cellfunctions appropriately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a fuel cell componentcapable of obtaining information that cannot be determined by its outerappearance.

[0008] A fuel cell component of a fuel cell includes a retrieval code ora specific information identifying element or a specific informationidentifier that is correlated to particular information relating to thefuel cell. The retrieval code (or the specific information identifyingelement or the specific information identifier) is provided on anexposed surface of the fuel cell component so as to be accessible fromoutside of the fuel cell component.

[0009] On the basis of the retrieval code that can be read from theexposed surface, the information related to the unit cell can beretrieved with no need of disassembling the fuel cell component. Theretrieval code is related to various data related to the fuel cell,providing the information of the fuel cell that cannot be determined bythe outer appearance. This makes it possible to simplify serviceoperation. The term “particular information relating to the unit cell”herein represents the information relating to the fuel cell itself andparts constituting the fuel cell. The “particular information” usedherein includes various data, for example, output characteristics,record of past usage, manufacturing data, record of chronological changein behavior or the like.

[0010] The retrieval code may be at least one of an optically readablecode, a magnetically readable code, an electrically readable code, and amechanically readable code. This makes it possible to easily read theretrieval codes. The optically readable code includes a barcode, and acombination of concave and convex portions that forms a code pattern.The magnetically readable code includes a code stored on a magnetic tapeand the like. The electrically readable code includes a code stored onan IC (Integrated Circuit) chip and the like. The mechanically readablecode includes concave and convex portions that constitute a codepattern.

[0011] The fuel cell component includes a unit cell formed byinterposing a solid electrolyte membrane between separators via anelectrode. The information relating to the fuel cell contains datarelating to the unit cell. The information related to the fuel cell maycontain the information of each of the unit cells such that theinformation that cannot be determined by the outer appearance can beretrieved. The retrieval code may be provided on one of the separatorsof the unit cell. Since the separator generally has a plate-like shapewith a certain thickness, the retrieval code can be easily provided. Theretrieval code may be provided on an exposed region of a side surface ofthe separator. The term “information relating to the unit cell” hereinrepresents the information of the unit cell itself or elementsconstituting the unit cell.

[0012] The fuel cell component includes a cell lamination formed bylaminating a plurality of the unit cells each including a solidelectrolyte membrane interposed between separators via an electrode. Theinformation relating to the fuel cell contains data relating to the celllamination. This makes it possible to retrieve the information relatingto the cell lamination that cannot be determined by the outerappearance. The retrieval code may be provided on at least one portionof the cell lamination. The retrieval code can be easily provided on thecell lamination having a three-dimensional shape. The term “celllamination” may refer to a cell stack formed by laminating a pluralityof unit cells that is interposed between end plates and fastening theunit cells with the end plates using a fastening member. Alternativelythe “cell lamination” may refer to a cell module as a part of the cellstack. Since the cell lamination has a three-dimensional shape, theretrieval code can be easily provided. Note that the “cell lamination”represents a cell stack (having a lamination of a plurality of unitcells with each of the end plates arranged on top and bottom of thelaminated body, respectively, and fastened by fastening members.Alternatively the cell lamination may be formed as a part of thelaminated body employed for producing the cell stack, that is, a cellmodule. The term “information relating to the cell lamination” may referto the information relating to the cell lamination itself or partsconstituting the cell lamination.

[0013] A fuel cell component of a fuel includes a data storage mediumthat stores particular information relating to the fuel cell. The datastorage medium is provided on an exposed surface of the fuel cellcomponent so as to be accessible from outside of the fuel cellcomponent.

[0014] The storage medium of the fuel cell component is accessible fromthe outer exposed surface so as to read the information relating to thefuel cell stored in the recording medium. The information can be read byaccessing the recording medium from the outer exposed surface with noneed of disassembling the fuel cell component. The information thatcannot be determined by the outer appearance can be located, improvingthe service operation.

[0015] The data storage medium allows at least one of update andaddition of the information. This makes it possible to have update andaddition of the information that changes with time, for example,chronological record of the output characteristics, past usage,functional behavior or the like. As a result, the service operation canbe further simplified.

[0016] The fuel cell component includes a unit cell formed byinterposing a solid electrolyte membrane between separators via anelectrode. The information relating to the fuel cell contains datarelating to the unit cell. This makes it possible to obtain theinformation relating to each of the unit cells that cannot be determinedfrom the outer appearance. The data storage medium is provided on one ofthe separators of the unit cell. The storage medium can be easilyprovided on the separator having a plate-like shape with a certainthickness. An electrode for accessing the storage medium may be providedon an exposed area of a side surface of the separator, and the storagemedium may be embedded in the separator.

[0017] The fuel cell includes a cell lamination formed by laminating aplurality of the unit cells each including a solid electrolyte membraneinterposed between separators via an electrode. The information relatingto the fuel cell contains data relating to the cell lamination. Thismakes it possible to obtain the information relating to the celllamination that cannot be determined from the outer appearance. The datastorage medium is provided on at least one portion of the celllamination. The storage medium can be easily provided on the celllamination having a three-dimensional shape.

[0018] The particular information contains at least one of outputcharacteristics, charging/discharging characteristics, past usagerecord, manufacturing record, maintenance record, and chronologicalchange in behavior. This makes it possible to specify variousinformation including the output characteristics, charging/dischargingcharacteristics, record of the past usage, manufacturing data (material,conditions for manufacturing), maintenance or functional behavior whichmay improve or deteriorate the fuel cell performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a side view showing the outward appearance of a fuelcell according to a first embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inner structure of aunit cell according to the first embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outward appearance of aunit cell according to the first embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 4 schematically shows the structure of a system for readingparticular information relating to a unit cell from a barcode accordingto the first embodiment;

[0023]FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate respective modifications of thefirst embodiment; and

[0024]FIG. 6 shows the structure of a system used when a fuel cell of asecond embodiment is mounted in a fuel cell vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI

[0025] First Embodiment

[0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the outward appearance ofa fuel cell according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view showing the inner structure of a unit cell. FIG. 3is a schematic perspective view showing the outward appearance of a unitcell. FIG. 4 schematically shows the structure of a system for readinginformation relating to a unit cell from a barcode.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell 10 includes a cell lamination 11formed of a plurality of laminated unit cells 30, current collectorplates 12, 12 arranged at both ends of the cell lamination 11, endplates 16, 16 arranged at both ends of the current collector plates 12,12 with insulating plates 14, 14 interposed therebetween, and fasteningmembers 18 for fastening the end plates 16, 16 in the laminatingdirection to apply a desired pressing force to the cell lamination 11.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, each unit cell 30 of the fuel cell 10 isformed by interposing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 29 between twoseparators 36 and 38. The MEA 29 is formed by interposing a solidelectrolyte membrane 31 between gas diffusion electrodes 34 and 35. Thesolid electrolyte membrane 31 functions as a proton-conductingelectrolyte in a wet condition. A perfluoro sulfonic acid resin membranelike Nafion membrane produced by Du Pont may be employed as the solidelectrolyte membrane 31. Each of the gas diffusion electrodes 34, 35 isformed from a carbon cloth, a woven material of carbon fiber threads,and have a length slightly shorter than that of the solid electrolytemembrane 31. Catalyst electrodes 32, 33 are respectively embedded on thesurfaces of the gas diffusion electrodes 34, 35 that face the solidelectrolyte membrane 31. The catalyst electrodes 32, 33 are formed fromcarbon powder carrying platinum, an alloy of platinum and another metal,or the like as a catalyst. Each of the separators 36, 38 has asubstantially rectangular shape, and is formed from gas-impermeable,dense carbon, i.e., carbon compressed to have a gas impermeableproperty. The separators 36, 38 serve as partitions of the unit cell 30.A fuel gas passage 37 is formed in the surface of the separator 36 thatfaces the gas diffusion electrode 34. An oxidizing gas passage 39 isformed in the surface of the separator 38 that faces the gas diffusionelectrode 35. As shown in FIG. 3, a barcode 41 is provided on theexposed side surface of the separator 38. Gaps defined by the separators36, 38 and the MEA 29 having no gas diffusion electrodes 34, 35 arefilled with a sealant 40 so as to prevent leakage of fuel gas andoxidizing gas, and mixture of those gases in the gaps.

[0029] The gas diffusion electrode 34 is a fuel electrode to which fuelgas, that is, hydrogen or a high-concentration, hydrogen-containing gasis supplied from the fuel gas passage 37. At the gas diffusion electrode34, protons (H⁺) and electrons (e) are produced from hydrogen molecules(H₂). On the other hand, the gas diffusion electrode 35 is an airelectrode to which oxidizing gas, that is, air is supplied from theoxidizing gas passage 39. At the gas diffusion electrode 35, water (H₂O)is produced from the reaction of oxygen molecules (O₂), protons (H⁺) andelectrons (e). The protons produced at the gas diffusion electrode 34travel to the gas diffusion electrode through the solid electrolytemembrane 31. The electrons produced at the gas diffusion electrode 34travel to the gas diffusion electrode 35 through a not-shown externalpath. The gas diffusion electrode 34 has an increased Fermi level as aresult of receiving the electrons from the hydrogen molecules. Meanwhilethe gas diffusion electrode 35 has a reduced Fermi level as a result ofgiving the electrons to the oxygen molecules. Such a Fermi leveldifference between the electrodes 34, 35 causes electromotive force.Each unit cell 30 has electromotive force of about 1 volt Therefore, aplurality of unit cells 30 are connected in series with each other toform the fuel cell 10 that generates desired voltage.

[0030] Each code number contained in the barcode 41 is correlated to theinformation related to the unit cell 30. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 4, an internal memory 51 of a database computer 50 stores adatabase where code numbers of the barcodes 41 are correlated to theinformation relating to the unit cells 30. The barcode 41 is opticallyread with a barcode reader 52 connected to the database computer 50, andthe database computer 50 then extracts the information related to thecode number of the barcode 41 for display. The information relating tothe unit cell 30 includes invariable information that requires noupdating such as initial output characteristics, initialcharging/discharging characteristics of the fuel cell 30, materials andmanufacturing conditions of the solid electrolyte membrane 31 and thegas diffusion electrodes 34, 35 of the MEA 29, product name,manufacturer, date of manufacture, material and manufacturing conditionsof the separators 36, 38, and shape of the gas passages. The informationmay further include maintenance information such as record of the pastrepairs.

[0031] Hereinafter, an example of manufacturing the fuel cell 10according to the embodiment will be described. In the manufacturingprocess of the fuel cell 10, a cell lamination 11 is formed bylaminating a plurality of unit cells 30. In this step, unit cells 30having the same or similar information are selected and used to form thecell lamination 11. The cell lamination 11 may be formed from the unitcells 30 having the same or similar output characteristics andcharging/discharging characteristics, or having components such as solidelectrolyte membrane 31 and gas diffusion electrodes 34, 35 made of thesame or similar material with the same or similar manufacturingconditions. This ensures that the resultant fuel cell 10 is formed fromthe fuel cells 30 having the same or similar quality. As a result, thecapability of the fuel cell 10 is more likely to be stabilized.

[0032] Hereinafter, an example of using the fuel cell 10 according tothe present embodiment will be described. If the fuel cell 10 mounted ona fuel cell vehicle exhibits degraded capability during operation, theplurality of unit cells 30 in the fuel cell 10 have to be examined oneby one to specify the defective fuel cell 30. For example, if the fuelcell 10 can no longer output a desired voltage, the unit cell 30 havinga reduced output voltage is specified. The barcode 41 provided on theexposed side surface of the separator 38 of the specified unit cell 30is optically read with the barcode reader 52. The information relatingto that unit cell 30 is then verified on the display of the databasecomputer 50. By repeatedly conducting such data collection, informationsuch as initial output characteristics and initial charging/dischargingcharacteristics, materials and manufacturing conditions of the solidelectrolyte membrane 31 and the gas diffusion electrodes 34, 35, andrecord of the past maintenance can be obtained for the unit cells 30that are susceptible to degradation in capability. Moreover, theinformation relating to the unit cells 30 capable of maintaining theirsatisfactory capability can be obtained similarly.

[0033] As has been specifically described above, according to theembodiment, the barcode 41 is accessible from the exposed side surfaceof the separator 38 of the unit cell 30. This allows the information tobe easily read without decomposing the unit cell 30. Moreover, theinformation of the unit cell 30 is known from the barcode 41. Therefore,information that cannot be determined by the outer appearance can beobtained, resulting in improving the service operation. Moreover, theconditions of the unit cells 30 (such as initial output characteristicsand initial charging/discharging characteristics, and materials andmanufacturing conditions) which are preferable to maintain satisfactorycapability of the fuel cell 10 can also be known. As a result, beforethe defective unit cell 30 is replaced with a new one, whether the newunit cell 30 will function properly after replacement or not can bedetermined based on the information relating to the new unit cell 30obtained from the barcode 41.

[0034] Note that, in the above embodiment, the barcode 41 is provided onthe side surface of the separator 38. As shown in FIG. 5A, however, thebarcode 41 may be replaced with optically or mechanically readableconcave portion 42 forming a prescribed pattern corresponding to a codenumber. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, a magnetically readabletape, that is, a magnetic tape 43, that stores code numbers may beprovided. Referring to FIG. 5C, an electrically readable IC chip 44 thatstores code numbers may be provided on the side surface of the separator38. Referring to FIG. 5D, an IC chip 45 that stores code numbers may beembedded in the separator 38 and electrodes 45 a of the IC chip 45 maybe exposed from the side surface of the separator 38. In this case, theIC chip 45 is embedded in a portion of the separator 45 that does notinterfere with the fuel gas passage 37 and the oxidizing gas passage 39.Each of the aforementioned cases provides the same effects as those ofthe embodiment of the invention.

[0035] The magnetic tape 43 and the IC chips 44, 45 shown in FIGS. 5B to5D may directly store the information relating to the unit cell 30instead of the code numbers correlated to the information. This makes itpossible to obtain the information related to the unit cell 30 byreading stored data with no need of data retrieval.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the barcode 41 is provided on each ofthe unit cells 30. However, the barcode 41 may be provided on each ofthe cell lamination 11. In this case, the barcode 41 may be provided onthe exposed surface of an any portion of the cell lamination 11 (e.g.,the side surface of any one of the separators of the plurality of unitcells 30 included in the cell lamination 11, or the side surface of theinsulator 14 or the end plate 16 of the fuel cell 10). The barcode 41may be correlated to the information relating to a plurality of unitcells 30 of the cell lamination 11, or the information relating to thecell lamination 11, for example, initial output characteristics andinitial charging/discharging characteristics.

[0037] The cell lamination 11 may be formed from a plurality of modulesformed by laminating a predetermined number of the unit cells 30, thatis, a plurality of cell modules (see Japanese Patent Laid-OpenPublication No. 9-92324). In this case, the barcode 41 may be providedon each of the cell modules. More specifically, the barcode 41 may beprovided on the exposed surface of each cell module (e.g., the sidesurface of any one of the separators of the plurality of unit cells 30of each cell module). The barcode 41 may be correlated to theinformation relating to the plurality of unit cells 30 that constitutethe cell module, or to the information relating to the cell module (forexample, initial output characteristics and initial charging/dischargingcharacteristics of the cell module).

[0038] Second Embodiment

[0039] The second embodiment is substantially the same as the firstembodiment except that the barcode 41 is replaced with the IC chip 44 asshown in FIG. 5C. Therefore, only the difference between the first andsecond embodiments will be described hereinafter. FIG. 6 shows thestructure of a system applied to a fuel cell vehicle on which the fuelcell of the second embodiment is mounted. Referring to FIG. 6, the ICchips 44 are connected to a controller 60 mounted on the fuel cellvehicle. The controller 60 is connected to sensors 61 for measuring theoutput voltage of the respective unit cells 30. The controller 60 readsthe respective output voltages of the unit cells 30 from the sensors 61at prescribed intervals, and writes them in the corresponding IC chips44. As a result, change in the output voltage with time, that is,functional behavior of the unit cell during running of the vehicle isstored in the IC chips 44.

[0040] In the case where the fuel cell 10 mounted on the fuel cellvehicle fails to generate a desired voltage as elapse of time, the fuelcell 10 is detached from the vehicle in order to read the data containedin the IC chip 44 provided on the exposed side surface of the separator38 of each of the unit cell 30. As a result, it can be determined as towhich unit cell 30 has degraded performance.

[0041] According to the foregoing embodiment of the invention, each ICchip 44 is accessible from the exposed side surface of the separator 38of the respective unit cells 30. This makes it possible to read theinformation easily without disassembling of the fuel cell 10. As theinformation that cannot be determined from the outer appearance may beobtained, the service operation can be further simplified. Moreover dataon the functional behavior during running of the vehicle can be updatedand accumulated. The data of the functional behavior may clarify thecause of either degraded performance or preferable performance of theunit cell 30. Moreover, the fuel cell 10 itself has the informationrelating to the unit cells 30. Therefore, performance of the unit cells30 can be determined as well as causes of deteriorated or improvedperformance can be examined even if the fuel cell 10 is detached fromthe fuel cell vehicle.

[0042] In the embodiment, the controller 60 is designed to read datafrom the IC chip 44 of each fuel cell 30 as necessary during running ofthe fuel cell vehicle so as to perform driving control of the fuel cellvehicle or charging/discharging control of the fuel cell 10 on the basisof the read data. In the case where the fuel cell 10 is disassembledfrom the fuel cell vehicle for maintenance, and then assembled in thesame or the different fuel cell vehicle, the output characteristics andthe charging/discharging characteristics at the maintenance are storedin the IC chip 44. Accordingly, the controller 60 reads theaforementioned data so as to perform the drive control in accordancewith the output characteristics and to perform the charging/dischargingcharacteristics in accordance with the charging/dischargingcharacteristics.

[0043] In the foregoing embodiment, the IC chip 44 provided on the sidesurface of the separator 38 serves as the storage medium. However, thestorage medium is not limited to the IC chip. As shown in FIG. 5D, theIC chip 45 that stores code numbers may be embedded in a portion of theseparator 38, which does not interfere with the fuel gas passage 37 andthe oxidizing gas passage 39. Then the electrodes 45 a of the IC chip 45are provided on the exposed side surface of the separator 38. Theforegoing case may also provide the same effect as that of theembodiment of the invention.

[0044] In the aforementioned embodiment, the IC chip 44 is provided oneach of the unit cells 30. However, the IC chip 44 may be provided on anarbitrary exposed surface of the cell lamination 11. In this case, theIC chip 44 may be provided on the exposed surface of the cell lamination11 (e.g., the side surface of any one of the separators of the pluralityof unit cells 30 included in the cell lamination 11, or the side surfaceof the insulator 14 or the end plate 16 of the fuel cell 10). The ICchip 44 may store the information relating to a plurality of unit cells30 included in the cell lamination 11, or the information relating tothe cell lamination 11 (such as output characteristics andcharging/discharging characteristics of the cell lamination 11).

[0045] The cell lamination 11 may be formed by laminating apredetermined number of stacked unit cells 30, i.e., a plurality of cellmodules (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-92324). In thiscase, the IC chip 44 may be provided on each of the cell modules. Morespecifically, the IC chip 44 may be provided on the exposed surface ofeach of the cell modules (e.g., the side surface of any one of theseparators of the plurality of unit cells 30 constituting the cellmodule). The IC chip 44 may store the information relating to theplurality of unit cells 30 included in the cell module, or theinformation relating to the cell module (such as output characteristicsand charging/discharging characteristics of the cell module).

[0046] In this embodiment, the side surface of each unit cell may havedifferent number of concave portions representative of the capacity ofthe unit cell such that each capacity of the respective unit cells canbe identified. The different type of the unit cell nay also bedistinguished from those combined together by the number of concaveportions. Alternatively the outer surface of the unit cell may bedifferently colored in accordance with the capacity.

[0047] While the invention has been described in detail in terms ofembodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention as disclosed herein is by way of illustration and example onlyand is not to be taken by way of limitation, and may be embodied invarious forms without departing from the technical scope of theinvention.

[0048] A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality ofunit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both endsof the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outsidethe current collector plates (12, 12) with insulating plates (14, 14)interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening theend plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desiredpressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding toparticular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on theexposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30).According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily readrequiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as theinformation relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode(41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearancecan be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.

1. A fuel cell component of a fuel cell [[(10)]], comprising: aretrieval code that is correlated to particular information relating tothe fuel cell [[(10)]], the retrieval code being provided on an exposedsurface of the fuel cell component so as to be accessible from outsideof the fuel cell component.
 2. A fuel cell component according to claim1, wherein the retrieval code comprises at least one of an opticallyreadable code, a magnetically readable code, an electrically readablecode, and a mechanically readable code.
 3. A fuel cell componentaccording to claim 2, wherein the retrieval code comprises at least oneof a bar code [[(41)]], a pattern having a concave portion [[(42)]], amagnetic tape [[(43)]], and an IC chip [[(44, 45)]].
 4. A fuel cellcomponent according to claim 1 [[or 2]], wherein the fuel cell componentcomprises a unit cell [[(30)]] formed by interposing a solid electrolytemembrane [[(31)]] between separators via an electrode, and theinformation relating to the fuel cell contains data relating to the unitcell [[(30)]].
 5. A fuel cell component according to claim 4, whereinthe retrieval code is provided on one of the separators [[(36, 38)]] ofthe unit cell.
 6. A fuel cell component according to claim 1 [[or 2]],wherein the fuel cell component comprises a cell lamination [[(11)]]formed by laminating a plurality of the unit cells [[(30)]] eachincluding a solid electrolyte membrane [[(31)]] interposed betweenseparators [[(36, 38)]] via an electrode [[(45 a)]], and the informationrelating to the fuel cell [[(10)]] contains data relating to the celllamination [[(11)]].
 7. A fuel cell component according to claim 6,wherein the retrieval code is provided on at least one portion of thecell lamination [[(11)]].
 8. A fuel cell component of a fuel cell[[(10)]], comprising: a specific information indicator that iscorrelated to a particular information relating to the fuel cell[[(10)]], the specific information indicator being provided on anexposed surface of the fuel cell component so as to be accessible fromoutside of the fuel cell component.
 9. A fuel cell component accordingto claim 8, wherein the fuel cell component comprises a unit cell[[(3)]] formed by interposing a solid electrolyte membrane [[(31)]]between separators via an electrode, and the information relating to thefuel cell contains data relating to the unit cell [[(30)]].
 10. A fuelcell component according to claim 9, wherein the specific informationindicator is provided on one of the separators [[(36, 38)]] of the unitcell.
 11. A fuel cell component according to claim 8, wherein the fuelcell component comprises a cell lamination [[(11)]] formed by laminatinga plurality of the unit cells [[(30)]] each including a solidelectrolyte membrane [[(31)]] interposed between separators [[(36, 38)]]via an electrode [[(45 a)]], and the information relating to the fuelcell [[(10)]] contains data relating to the cell lamination [[(11)]].12. A cuel cell component according to claim 11, wherein the specificinformation indicator is provided on at least one portion of the celllamination [[(11)]].
 13. A fuel cell component of a fuel cell [[(10)]],comprising: a specific information identifying element that iscorrelated to particular information relating to the fuel cell [[(10)]],the specific information identifying element being provided on anexposed surface of the fuel cell component so as to be accessible fromoutside of the fuel cell component.
 14. A fuel cell component of a fuelcell [[(10)]], comprising: a data storage medium that stores particularinformation relating to the fuel cell [[(10)]], the data storage mediumbeing provided on an exposed surface of the fuel cell component so as tobe accessible from outside of the fuel cell component.
 15. A fuel cellcomponent according to claim 14, wherein the data storage medium allowsat least one of update and addition of the information.
 16. A fuel cellcomponent according to claim 15, wherein the data storage mediumcomprises an IC chip [[(44, 45)]].
 17. A fuel cell component accordingto claim 14 [[or 15]], wherein the fuel cell component comprises a unitcell [[(30)]] formed by interposing a solid electrolyte membrane[[(31)]] between separators [[(36, 38)]] via an electrode [[(45 a)]],and the information relating to the fuel cell [[(10)]] contains datarelating to the unit cell [[(30)]].
 18. A fuel cell assembly accordingto claim 17, wherein the data storage medium is provided on one of theseparators [[(36, 38)]] of the unit cell [[(30)]].
 19. A fuel cellassembly according to claim 14 [[or 15]], wherein the fuel cell [[(10)]]comprises a cell lamination [[(11)]] formed by laminating a plurality ofthe unit cells [[(30)]] each including a solid electrolyte membrane[[(31)]] interposed between separators [[(36, 38)]] via an electrode[[(45 a)]], and the information relating to the fuel cell [[(10)]]contains data relating to the cell lamination [[(11)]].
 20. A fuel cellassembly according to claim 19, wherein the data storage medium isprovided on at least one portion of the cell lamination.
 21. A fuel cellassembly according to any one of claims 1 to 20 claim 1, wherein theinformation contains at least one of output characteristics,charging/discharging characteristics, past usage record, manufacturingrecord, maintenance record, and chronological change in behavior.
 22. Afuel cell assembly according to claim 8, wherein the informationcontains at least one of output characteristics charging/dischargingcharacteristics, past usage record, manufacturing record, maintenancerecord, and chronological change in behavior.
 23. A fuel cell assemblyaccording to claim 13, wherein the information contains at least one ofoutput characteristics, charging/discharging characteristics, past usagerecord, manufacturing record, maintenance record, and chronologicalchange in behavior.
 24. A fuel cell assembly according to claim 14,wherein the information contains at least one of output characteristicscharging/discharging characteristics, past usage record, manufacturingrecord, maintenance record, and chronological change in behavior.